Following a complete blackout of Cuba's National Electric System (SEN) that occurred on Monday, the Cuban government announced on Tuesday that there has been gradual progress in restoring electricity. An interconnected corridor has been established from Mariel in Artemisa to Sancti Spíritus.
Félix Estrada Rodríguez, the head of the National Load Dispatch, confirmed on Tuesday morning that the restoration began in the western part of the island, specifically in Jaruco. There, an energy "island" was formed in the Western System, supported by the Battery Energy Storage System (BES), a cutting-edge technology aiding the recovery process.
Using this initial core, power was successfully supplied to the thermoelectric plants in Mariel and Santa Cruz, extending the microsystem toward the center of the island, reaching the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes thermoelectric plant in Cienfuegos.
Vicente de la O Levy, Minister of Energy and Mines, stated on social media platform X that the next target is to move further east: "With the power grid now linked from Havana to Sancti Spíritus and the units at the 'Céspedes' power plant initiated, our priority is to reach Felton and continue. We are progressing while adhering to all established protocols."
The two units of the Céspedes thermoelectric plant, which would contribute nearly 300 MW to the base generation, are crucial for expanding the restoration towards the center-east and for starting up the Lidio Ramón Pérez plant in Mayarí, Holguín.
The situation across provinces is varied, and progress is slow. In Cienfuegos, the energy island provided power to 17 circuits with a load of 30 MW, successfully interconnecting the Cienfuegos-Matanzas subsystem.
Challenges in Power Restoration
In Villa Clara, the scenario is more severe, with the province having only 38 MW available, limiting service to 28 key circuits in Santa Clara, Sagua la Grande, Camajuaní, Manicaragua, and Cifuentes.
Municipalities like Quemado de Güines, Santo Domingo, Corralillo, and Ranchuelo will not receive power during this phase of restoration, acknowledged Yadier Ruiz, head of the Load Dispatch in that province. "We will attempt, gradually and whenever possible, to provide service to a minimum number of residential circuits with longer outages," Ruiz stated, noting the complexity of the situation due to power shortages and numerous plant failures.
Fuel Shortages Impede Progress
In Las Tunas, a small 12 MW micro-island has been operational since 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday, supplying electricity to health centers, potable water sources, and the hospital in Puerto Padre. Other hospitals in the province remain reliant on emergency generators.
The main hurdle in recovery efforts remains the lack of fuel. Estrada Rodríguez admitted that the system collapsed with less than 900 MW available on Monday morning, and the country does not have sufficient diesel reserves for distributed generation or the barges in Havana Bay.
This marks the seventh total blackout of the SEN in 18 months and the third of 2026, amid an ongoing energy crisis lacking a structural solution, which has sparked public protests in several municipalities over recent days.
"Our top priority today is to successfully start the Céspedes units to ensure the continued restoration of the system," emphasized Estrada Rodríguez, indicating that the eastern region of the island remains on standby for this critical step to be accomplished.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cuba's Power System Recovery
What triggered the recent blackout in Cuba?
The blackout was caused by a collapse of the National Electric System (SEN) due to insufficient power generation and a lack of fuel reserves.
Which areas were prioritized in the power restoration efforts?
Restoration efforts began in the western part of Cuba, specifically in Jaruco, and extended from Mariel to Sancti Spíritus.
What challenges are hindering the full recovery of the power system?
The main challenges include fuel shortages, plant failures, and the complexity of the recovery process due to the widespread nature of the blackout.